A second letter sent from John Ashe Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, to the Honourable VVilliam Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliment. Concerning divers messages, and passages between the Marquesse Hartford, Lord Pawlet, Lord Seymour, Lord Coventry, and others his Majesties commissioners: and the deputy lievtenants and other commissioners for the county of Somerset. Together with divers propositions for peace, by the commissioners and deputy lievtenants for that county. And the Lord Hartford, Lord Pawlet, Lord Seymour, and others answer thereunto. Ordered by the Commons in Parliament that this be forthwith printed and published. H. Elsyn. Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.

A second Letter sent from Iohn Ashe Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, to the Honourable VVilliam Lenthall Es∣quire, Speaker of the House of Commons,

SIR,

IN my last sent you by Master Coombs you received, a full re∣lation of all that was done by his Majesties loyall Subjects, and the Parliaments most faithfull Friends and servants here in this part of the County of Somer∣set, you sh••ll now receive an account of what passed between your Committees and Deputie Lievtenants and the Lord Marquesse Hartford, the Lords and others his Majesties Com∣missioners.

Upon Friday, the fifth of this instant August, a∣bout twelve of the clocke, there was sent from the Lord Marquesse and the Commissioners unto your Committees and Deputy Lievtenants then in the field neere Chewton, Anthony Stocker, VVilliam Basset, and Richard Brown, three Justices of the Peace, of this County, who went but that very morning to Wells, upon a Letter which they produced unto us sent unto them from the Marquesse, wherein they were desired to come unto Wells, to preserve the peace of the Countrey. These three Messengers told us that they had a Message to deliver us from the Lord Marquesse, and the Commissioners which they were willing to bring unto us, because (as they conceived) it did conduce to the peace of the Countrey, and thereupon delivered the message in writing, a Coppie whereof is herewith sent you, and at the same time they delivered us a Declarati∣on, which the Lord Marquesse and the Commissio∣ners had caused to be published for the satisfaction of the Countrey, in which is especially set out those severall passages at Shepton Mallet upon Munday, the first of this moneth, the Declaration we do like∣wise send you, which when you have compared & examined with our relation formerly sent you touching the same matter, you may then see the er∣rours and mistakes committed by the Commissio∣ners contained in the said Declaration. When your Committees and Deputy Lievtenants had perused this Declaration and Message, for that Master Strode, Master Pyne, Master Rogers, and Master Francis were

not come unto us, and some of them were principally concerned in that of Shepton Mallet, we thought fit to returne the Commissioners for the present this an∣swer, which we here send you, promising them a more full answer the next day, by which time we did hope to enjoy the company, and have the advise and consent of those Gentlemen above-named, for wee expected them every houre, but they came not unto us at all. When your Committees and Deputy-Lievtenants had deliver'd unto the messengers their said Answer. They the Messengers did propose that a course should be taken, that the peace might be kept between us during this time, that the Commissioners were to expect our next Answer, and thereupon was added the last clause in this our first answer, upon this condition that they the three messengers should engage that the like assurance should be given us from the Lord Mar∣quesse, and the other Commissioners, or else to re∣ceive timely advertisement by them, whereby wee might have time to put our selves in some readinesse for our safety and defence, which the Messengers con∣senting unto they departed; And in the evening (by which time all our Companies were marched from Chewton unto a Hill above, and in view of the Towne of VVels) the same Messengers came againe unto us, and brought the Warrant for our safety under the Lord Marquesse, and some of the Commissioners hands, which writing we likewise doe herewithall send unto you. The next morning wee made ready our an∣swer to their first Message which was digested in∣to propositions, and about ten of the clocke sent the same into VVels by foure Gentlemen, Master Giles

Hungerford, Master VVilliam Eyre, Master George Bomp∣field, the Master Prickman, who were attended by our Trumpetter, and so brought safe to the Lord Mar∣quesse, and delivered him the Propositions, from whom they received this Answer, That the Answer and pro∣positions were of a very high Concernment, and there∣fore his Lordship and the Commissioners did desire time to consider of them, but would give their reply by two of the clocke at the farthest, and send the same unto us by Messengers of their owne; The Meslage and Propositions you shall receive herewithall.

After the Lords and Gentlemen had received these our Propositions, they then (as wee were informed) made ready all things for their departure, and hastned away with speed, yet to keepe the people in expectati∣on whilst they might with the more safety depart the Towne, They sent us up to the Hill by three Gentle∣men, Master Stocker, Master Seymour, and master Button an answer to our Propositions, but before their messen∣gers came from them, all their Carriages were gone out of the Towne, and the Lords and Gentlemen rea∣dy to take horse, the answer wee have herewith sent unto you.

But by that time we had received, and read this their Lordships reply, there came Messengers unto us from the Major and Citizens of Wells, who assured us that the Lord Marquesse and all the company were gone, and had left the Towne, and therefore petitioned us, that the Sould••ers might not come down, nor attempt any thing against them. Upon which relation the Souldiers looking round the Countrey, they espied the Lord Marquesse and all the company marching a∣way,

and gone about three miles off, neere unto a Towne called Glassenbury, since which time we have received certaine intelligence from one that continued with them unto this very day; That they marched that night unto Somerton, a Towne neere unto Sir Iohn Fo∣wells house, from which place went the Lord Paulet, and many other Gentlemen from the Marquesse unto their homes: The Lord Marquesse and those that were left, stayed at Somerton untill Munday morning, and then left that Towne, and are gone and setled at Sherborne, as we are credibly informed. Sir Ralfe Hop∣ton and Sir Francis Dodington with some others resol∣ving not to leave the Lord Marquesse, but to keepe under his protection, for that the whole Countrey doe take Sir Ralph Hopton for no better then a Rebell. There are reports that they intend to returne into this County againe to bee avenged for this affront: Very probable it is, that they goe about to get more strength to come into this County or into Wiltshire, for Shir∣borne is not farre distant from that part of Wilts, where the Lord Cottington, the Lord Arundell of Warder, the Lord Sturton, the Deane of Windsor, the Earle of Marlborow, Master Coventry, and Master Edward Sei∣mour, neighbour altogether; And a strong report hath beene these ten dayes, that they will very spee∣dily put their Cōmission in execution about Sarum and Warminster; Wherefore it is held most necessary, that both Counties stand upon their guard, and that those Noble Earles of Bedford and Pembroke be hastened a∣way into the Country with such Commanders, and other strength as you shall thinke fit to supply us with∣all; Sir, we are lost and spoyled, if we have not Com∣manders,

for though the Countrie people be stout and resolved, yet we are not able to maintaine the cause, and support our courage, without expert men that can leade and advise us. We shall therefore comfort our selves with the speedy expectation of their arrivall, and shall pray for your safeties as our own, which shall be the constant imployment of

Freshford 8. Aug. 1642.

Your most humble and loving Servant, IOHN ASHE.

Sir, This Letter is written by the consent and approbation of Sir Edward Hungerford, though he bee not present to sub∣scribe it, the other Committees and Deputies being busily imployed in severall parts of the County to make all safe if they can.